Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a student (details supplied) in County Cork who has Down's syndrome does not qualify to receive resource hours teaching in their mainstream school. [34648/07]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason Down's syndrome is not included as a disability on the low incidence disabilities list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34649/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides a range of teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs, including children with Down's Syndrome. The precise level of support is determined by the special educational needs of the particular child.

Children with Down's Syndrome are entitled to additional provision in school, either under the terms of the general allocation system of teaching supports if the child's assessment places the child in the high incidence disability category or through an allocation of additional resources if the child is assessed as being within the low incidence category of special need, as defined by my Department's circular.

In circumstances where a Down's Syndrome child has other associated needs and would fall into the low incidence disability categories, this may automatically attract an individual resource teaching allocation. The number of additional teaching hours allocated would range from three to five hours per week depending on the pupil's special educational needs including the level of general learning disability. Applications for such support should be referred to the local Special Educational Needs Organiser SENO by the school.